PM apologises for outburst at fisherman

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday apologised for having raised his voice against a Pattani fisherman who had asked the premier to alleviate measures curbing fishing activities in order to keep up with international standards. “The PM is upset for complaining about a fisherman yesterday in Pattani,” said a status update on Facebook page “Prayut Chan-o-cha’s team”.

“But please understand that the government has solved illegal fishery for the survival of the Thai fishery industry and its exports in line with our [international] commitment. This is also to maintain natural balances and to sustain our fishery for the future,” the page said.

The message came a day after Paranyu Charoen approached the premier during the latter’s field trip to Pattani, telling Prayut that he had suffered from the government’s regulation that limits fishermen to sailing out to sea on only 220 days a year.

“The limited number of days has caused me to face deficits in my fishery business,” Paranyu told Prayut with a loud voice to keep up with nearby speakers.

Prayut, understanding that Paranyu had yelled at him, scolded him and said: “Talk nice to me, don’t raise your voice to pressure me. The government is ready to listen to problems.

“We’re proceeding things but we also have to think of the fishery sector across the country and around the world. We’re not solving the problem for anyone in particular,”

Prayut’s scolding caused his secretary-general, General Vilas Aroonsri, to abruptly intervene and suggest that the 34-year-old fisherman submit a petition to the government-run Damrongdhamma Centre instead.